Sheffield Wednesday plotting Ipswich Town raid for 23-cap international forward | OneFootball

Out of favour Ipswich striker Ali Al-Hamadi is on Sheffield Wednesday's radar

Sheffield Wednesday are looking into a move for Ipswich Town outcast Ali Al-Hamadi, it has been reported.

The Owls did a lot of early summer business that was very eyecatching, including permanent deals for players such as Callum Slattery, Louie Barry and a loan swoop for Leeds United's teenage starlet Harry Gray, but incomings have been slower in recent weeks.

Wednesday are working close to their seasonal budget in terms of paying transfer fees and loans, which has been imposed by the EFL within the terms of their exit from administration under new owners Arise Capital Partners, so it's likely going to be freebies and cheaper temporary deals for the remainder of their business.

Ipswich Town striker on Sheffield Wednesday transfer radar

Owls head coach Henrik Pedersen still evidently wants to add to his attacking unit, and as per Joe Crann of The Wednesday Word, Sheffield Wednesday are keen on signing Ali Al-Hamadi.

The 24-year-old striker has been at Portman Road since the start of 2024, with the Tractor Boys swooping for the then-AFC Wimbledon star after a prolific League Two stint which saw him find the back of the net 13 times in 23 fourth tier appearances.

Paying just over £1 million for the 23-time Iraq international's services two-and-a-half years ago, Ipswich reaped the short-term rewards of bringing Al-Hamadi to Suffolk, with four goals in 13 appearances helping them over the line and into the Premier League, but after limited top flight outings in 2024-25, he joined Stoke City of the Championship on loan in the second half of that campaign, scoring just the twice in his 15 outings.

Ali Al-Hamadi is coming off struggle of a League One season

Once again not in Kieran McKenna's plans, this time in the Championship in 2025-26 after Ipswich's Premier League relegation, Al-Hamadi was on the move again, joining Luton Town - also relegated months prior but from the Championship to League One - to try and get some regular game-time under his belt.

Al-Hamadi was injured upon arrival at Kenilworth Road though, and he did not make his debut until November 2025, ending the season with just one goal from 13 appearances for the Hatters, who finished outside the play-off places under Jack Wilshere.

In the deal agreed with Ipswich, there was a conditional obligation to buy Al-Hamadi for Luton worth £3 million, depending on certain criteria being hit, but his lack of appearances and goals dented the chances of them landing a profit on the centre-forward, who has since returned to Portman Road to look for his next move out of the club.

He has not played a part in pre-season for Ipswich after returning from the FIFA World Cup, and his next move may now be important for his career, having still got two years to run on his contract at Town.

If fit, Ali Al-Hamadi could be a solid Sheffield Wednesday addition

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A lack of pre-season game-time for Al-Hamadi could perhaps be detrimental, although he got enough minutes at the World Cup under his belt, but that was in June.

Two months later, he's not had a kick of a ball in a friendly or competitive action, although an EFL Cup clash with Leicester City this week may give the Iraqi a chance to get some minutes in the legs should Gary O'Neil select him, and perhaps put him in the shop window to onlookers.

For Sheffield Wednesday though, they'll be looking to get a clear run for Al-Hamadi's services, with the hope that he can re-discover the form from 2023-24 that led to his move to Ipswich in the first place, as well as his following goals for them in the Championship.

Jamal Lowe has been leading the line for Sheffield Wednesday to start the season, with summer signing Gray supporting out wide with Louie Barry, and even though Mason Burstow has also arrived, clearly Pedersen wants more fire-power - a fit and firing Al-Hamadi could give him just that.